Early-Career Researchers from the CAS Received the 2026 Otto Wichterle Award

The Otto Wichterle Award, bestowed since 2002, comes with a stipend of CZK 330,000 spread over three years. The accolade, recognizing outstanding researchers under the age of 35, has already been granted to 565 laureates. On 24 June 2026, another twenty-three joined their ranks. This year’s recipients include experts in exoplanets, photovoltaic materials, concrete, and plasma, as well as diabetes, drought, social psychology, and literature in exile.

The wide range of topics the awarded researchers focus on reflects the diversity of scientific fields covered by the individual institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS). The CAS comprises more than fifty research institutes that examine topics ranging from archaeology, botany, philosophy, and chemistry to zoology and environmental sciences. Early-career researchers form a significant part of these institutes.

“At the beginning of their careers, our young, talented researchers need strong support and room to develop,” says CAS President Radomír Pánek. “Many past recipients of the Otto Wichterle Award are now recognized experts who are pushing the boundaries of their fields. This year’s laureates also have the potential to build on their success and become leading figures of Czech science,” adds Pánek, who himself received the award in 2009.

Many past recipients of the Otto Wichterle Award are now respected scientists and directors of research institutes. In 2009, the current CAS President, Radomír Pánek, also received the award.

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This year’s Otto Wichterle Award laureates:

Ján Šubjak from the Astronomical Institute of the CAS (Ján Šubjak was unable to attend the award ceremony in person and is therefore not shown in the photos).

Aleš Vlk from the Institute of Physics of the CAS.

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Samuel Braunfeld from the Institute of Computer Science of the CAS.

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Adéla Hladká from the Institute of Computer Science of the CAS.

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Petr Miarka from the Institute of Physics of Materials of the CAS.

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Petr Bílek from the Institute of Plasma Physics of the CAS.

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Radovan Smíšek from the Institute of Scientific Instruments of the CAS.

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Ondřej Mrózek from the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the CAS.

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Luka Pirker from the J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the CAS.

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Krzysztof Polaczek from the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the CAS.

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Petra Krafčíková from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS (Petra Krafčíková was unable to attend the award ceremony in person and is therefore not shown in the photos).

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Veronika Šlachtová from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the CAS.

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Daniel Benák from the Institute of Physiology of the CAS.

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Tomáš Brabec from the Institute of Microbiology of the CAS.

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František Sklenář from the Institute of Microbiology of the CAS.

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Zuzana Pavlíčková from the Biology Centre of the CAS.

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Martin Bitomský from the Institute of Botany of the CAS.

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Bethan Mason from the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the CAS.

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Monika Hlavsová from the Global Change Research Institute of the CAS.

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David Lacko from the Institute of Psychology of the CAS.

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Katarína Adameková from the Institute of Archaeology of the CAS, Brno.

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Jakub Kapičiak from the Institute of Slavonic Studies of the CAS.

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Františka Schormová from the Institute of Czech Literature of the CAS.

Written and prepared by: Leona Matušková, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS, drawing on the CAS press release
Translated by: Tereza Novická, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS
Photo: Josef Landergott, External Relations Division, CAO of the CAS

 The text and photos are released for use under the Creative Commons license.

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